Rook Media Acquires DomainSponsor from Oversee [Updates]

ds_logoI just received a press release announcing the Rook Media has acquired DomainSponsor from Oversee.net. The terms of the transaction were not released. Founded in 2002, DomainSponsor is one of the oldest domain name parking companies, and according to DailyChanges.com, its nameservers have nearly one million domain names resolving to them.

During the last several years, Oversee has evolved from being one of the largest domain name industry companies to perhaps moving away from the domain business, at least in terms of being a service provider. Previously, Oversee sold its Moniker domain registrar and SnapNames auction house. I think the company’s evolution is even more clear when you compare how Oversee is described in company press releases:

In 2012: “Oversee.net ® is a leader in online performance marketing.”

Today: “Oversee.net is an innovative technology company that owns and operates a portfolio of websites designed to help consumers discover, compare, and save.”

I think this deal should be seen as good news for domain investors. From my perspective, the more domain names that are parked with a monetization service, the better revenue share they should be able to command from the upstream provider. Some people may look at it from the other perspective of fewer providers means fewer options and lower payouts, but I don’t necessarily think that will be the case.

I am curious to know if DomainFest, the domain conference organized by Domain Sponsor will be included in this deal (update below). I am also curious if Rook Media will keep the DS name or if they will transition it to the Rook Media branding. I am sure we will learn these details in the coming days.

I reached out to representatives from Rook Media and Oversee for additional insight, and I will share that if and when I hear back.

Updates: I am told that DomainFest is not part of the deal. Also, Rook Media published a blog post with more insight. In it, the company said, “Over time you can expect an up-kick in the choice of landers, even more sophisticated monetization of your traffic, and a lot of new alternative monetization options. Stay tuned: big things are on the horizon.”

Oversee.net Press Release:

Los Angeles, Calif. and Zurich, Switzerland. April 21, 2014. Oversee.net, an innovative technology company that owns and operates a portfolio of websites and mobile apps in travel, retail and consumer finance, today announced that Rook Media, Europe’s largest domain monetization platform, has acquired its DomainSponsor monetization business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2002, DomainSponsor ® is a pioneer in the direct navigation industry and has maintained its leadership position in domain monetization across desktops and tablets as well as smart, feature, and WAP mobile phones. Over 230 million unique users per month visit DomainSponsor’s direct navigation ad network. Rook Media was founded by five domain professionals who all have over a decade of experience running industry-defining domain monetization platforms. That know-how has allowed Rook Media to significantly raise payment standards and realize substantial growth in the domain space, operating a platform that served over 12 million domain names in 2013.

“Rook Media is the perfect company to buy Oversee’s domain monetization business,” said Oversee CEO Debra Domeyer. “They value its industry leadership, technology, clients, and talented team. Coupled with Rook’s leadership in Europe, the combined entity has an unsurpassed breadth of product offering and monetization solutions.”

“The combination of Rook Media and DomainSponsor is a game changer for our industry,” noted CEO Ash Rahimi. “These two companies complement each other’s strengths and will provide our customers with the best US and international domain monetization solution. With unmatched relationships with the biggest advertising providers in the industry and our combined in-house technology solutions, there has literally never been a better way to monetize domains.”

With the completion of this transaction, Oversee can now focus on more aggressively developing its growth businesses. The company has been continually enhancing its online portfolio of web properties and mobile applications with strong brands that engage user’s passions.

About Oversee.net

Oversee.net is an innovative technology company that owns and operates a portfolio of websites designed to help consumers discover, compare, and save. Over 25 million unique users per month visit Oversee’s travel, consumer finance and comparison shopping web and mobile properties, which include WanderWe.com, AirportParking.com, LowFares.com, CreditCards.org, ShopWiki.com, and Compare.com. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Oversee also has an office in New York City. For more information, please visit www.oversee.net.

About Rook Media

Rook Media is a web-based technology company that monetizes internet domain names by providing highly relevant ads to online consumers. The company has established itself as the trusted leader in the direct navigation industry. Rook Media is based in Zurich, Switzerland. For more information, please visit www.rookmedia.net

Rook Media Press Release:

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — APRIL 21, 2014 — Rook Media, Europe’s largest domain monetization platform, today announced that it has acquired DomainSponsor, the industry leader and pioneer in domain name monetization and holder of one of the premier domain name portfolios in the world, from Los Angeles-based Internet Company Oversee.net.

Rook Media delivers over 680 ad impressions every second and is the largest parking company based in Europe. Especially competitive in international domain monetization, the platform has quickly grown to manage over 12.5 million domains in just three years.

Ash Rahimi, CEO of Rook Media, says “DomainSponsor, recognized as the leader in our industry, has consistently proven itself as the standard bearer for domain monetization. The two companies each have a significantly different value propositions and complement each other perfectly. We are very excited to bring the best of international as well as US monetization together under one roof. Rook Media can now provide unmatched traditional and alternative monetization no matter where the visitor comes from.

Domain owners will be able to continue to use both platforms separately, but benefit from both parking technologies. Ash Rahimi concludes: “This is a game changer for domainers. With unparalleled relationships with the biggest advertising providers in the industry and our own in-house advertising network, TrafficMatch, there has literally never been a better way to monetize domains.”

About Rook Media
Rook Media was founded in 2011 by five domain professionals who all boast over a decade’s experience running industry-defining domain monetization platforms. Having by far the most experienced management team in the industry has enabled the company to set new standards in payout levels to its customers. The company, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is privately held. For more information visit: http://rookmedia.net

Elliot Silver
Elliot Silver
About The Author: Elliot Silver is an Internet entrepreneur and publisher of DomainInvesting.com. Elliot is also the founder and President of Top Notch Domains, LLC, a company that has closed eight figures in deals. Please read the DomainInvesting.com Terms of Use page for additional information about the publisher, website comment policy, disclosures, and conflicts of interest. Reach out to Elliot: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

4 COMMENTS

    • Yes it’s very good news because more a parking player is huge and more he can negotiate better deals, which should means bigger payouts.

      DomainSponsor and RookMedia are part of the few parking services we highly recommend at domaining.com, so I am happy they join forces to better serve their customers.

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